A MINING company searching for coal just outside Bacchus Marsh, about 50 kilometres west of Melbourne, says its early findings are much better than expected, with an estimated 1 to 2 billion tonnes of export-quality brown coal in the area.

But West Australian company Mantle Mining could have a fight on its hands, with the local community bitterly opposed to its plans for an open-cut mine.

Wheat and barley farmer and harness racing stable owner Kate Tubbs said residents would rally to fight any attempt by the company to acquire their land.

Don't cross the fence: Kate Tubbs insists the farming community of Parwan, on the southern fringe of Bacchus Marsh, will rally to prevent coal mining on its land. Photo: Joe Armao

''We're quite adamant that we're not going to allow them on to our property,'' said Mrs Tubbs, whose farm lies beside three drill holes.

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Mantle Mining is in the early stages of exploration in the area and eventually plans to begin mining there and export the coal to India.

The company does not yet have a full mining licence for the mostly agricultural region, only a licence to explore, but managing director Ian Kraemer has said that if mining is viable - and yesterday's announcement strongly indicates it is - the firm will apply for one in the face of the strong local and environmentalist opposition.

The company has drilled four holes around Parwan, a farming community on the southern fringe of Bacchus Marsh, as part of a 15-hole exploration. It says two of the holes contain coal seams that are more than 50 metres thick, and that the cumulative coal thickness is 146 metres, which exceeds the company's expectations by more than 25 per cent.

A Mantle spokesman said yesterday that the company, if granted a mining licence, would compensate affected landowners for access, but Mrs

Tubbs said it could never compensate for wrecking their farm and their peaceful country lifestyle.

''We've created a life and a lifestyle as well as employment and they want to just trash it and dig it up for an open-cut coal mine,'' she said.

The project has provoked such fierce local resistance since it was made public in August that the company pulled out of a public information session.

Under Victorian law, a company seeking to open a mine on private land must gain the owner's permission or agree on compensation. If agreement is not reached, the matter ultimately proceeds to the Supreme Court.

Friends of the Earth spokesman Cam Walker said approving any new coal mine in Victoria would be a retrograde step as the government should be focusing on renewable energy.

''The time for new coal developments is over in Victoria,'' Mr Walker said. ''There's no justification in general for new coal mining operations and certainly not in prime agricultural country.''

A spokesman for the Baillieu government said it was sympathetic to landowners who did not want to give up their properties for mining operations, but not at the expense of the state's economic interests. ''We encourage companies to seek out resources that are available in Victoria, and as long as they follow all due legal and regulatory processes then the government wants to encourage mining in Victoria,'' the spokesman said.

Shares in Mantle Mining jumped almost 20 per cent yesterday to 0.075¢, after the company's announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange.

159 comments

Common big Ted, you can do better than create legislation to shut up criticism of the Minister for Pokies, Gambling and Other Incidental Social Ills. There must be coal under the city of Melbourne?? Let's start mining under Bourke Street!!! Honestly, If Bracks et al were about spin these guys are no different. Same wolves, different sheep clothing.

Commenter

unhappy comrade

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 6:32AM

is it law that land owners only own what is on top? anything beneath the surface is not their's? if so, it will require a huge amount of public opposition to stop the mine - i.e so politicians will see it costing votes

Commenter

jimbo

Location

qld

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 6:35AM

Here is the first opportunity for the government to make the right decision for the future of Australia and Australia's children and Grandchildren. This exploration has TO BE STOPPED HERE AND NOW. The Australian people are compensating the brown coal industry for the closure of brown coal power plants on one hand and this ridiculous company wants to destroy our food sources for the profit to exploit another country, knowing they could not sell this in Australia - this company is morally bankrupt as is any government that would support it.

Commenter

John R

Location

MIdway Point

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 6:50AM

I thought we were trying to stop using coal in any form so why are the mining companies still looking for it. If they sell it overseas all we are doing is moving a pollution problem off shore temporarily which will surely come back to bite us on the b..m years later. It is about time that big business is told NO means NO and leave people alone to live their life without worrying about profit, profit, profit.

Australia has a new policy to charge its people for every ounce of carbon they put into the air, India does not. Now I am no rocket scientist but doesn't that make Brown coal in Australia cheaper for India to buy?

Commenter

Wayne Wonders

Location

Vic

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 7:03AM

Wont somebody think of the miners??I for one think we should take to the streets to ensure the poor mining companies get everything they need to ensure they can dig wherever they like and keep all their profits.Think of everything they've done for us...

Commenter

d

Location

melbourne

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 7:05AM

If coal mining is to be stopped then the despoiling of the environment by the installation of wind farms should also be illegal.

For those worried about the children,grandchildren etc try naming 10 items in your home that DOESN'T come from mining.

Commenter

gabrianga

Location

YWD

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 7:07AM

This announcement causes me great sadness, as I discuss with my husband where we should move to. We both know the state government will be overjoyed at this discovery, and that their enthusiasm will be second only to the mayor of the Marsh who will be salivating like pavlov's dog over all the money. We live here for the community and lifestyle that will soon transition into mining town. Do we wait to sell or get in before the bottom falls out of the market here? I think no truer word was spoke than by Aunty Joy Murphy who in a "Welcome to Country" included the "country" that was on a boat on the way to China.

Commenter

Familyinthemarsh

Location

Bacchus Marsh

Date and time

October 18, 2011, 7:13AM

I don't live anywhere near Bacchus Marsh, nor do I know anyone who does. But I vehemently oppose any possibility that there's an open coal mine anywhere near the place.

If this is allowed to go ahead it makes a mockery of any state or federal renewable energy program.